National Republican., 1887-04-19
A False Lesson.

The Labor Enquirer Of Chicago presents
what IL calls ian object lesson, showing
how labor is robbed" which is very strik-
ing presentation to the eye, and only lacks
the element of truth to make 1t valuable;
wanting that it is either an ignorant oriuten-
tional attempt to deceive those whom the
paper pretends to instruct.
The Labor Enquirer shows, by perver-
sion Of facts and figures, that the hand
workers Of the country are gradually re-
ceiving less and less of the value Of the ar
tcles that are produced by their labor aud
the capital of the employer combined. But
This is not true. Only very slight inquiry
into and a very superficial knowledge Of
the facts are needed to establish the falsity
of the position taken by the Labor Enquirer,
so slight in fact that it justifies the BELIEF
that the perverson was Intentional rather
than ignorant.
1t is a fact so we'll established that no
man OF ordinary intelligence pretends to
deny it, that capital is now being paid less
wages than 1t ever was before In the history
Of the world. AS evidence Of this, money
can be borrowed at 4 per cent. upon any
thing like reasonable security. Another
evidence is that two thirds OF the railways
Of the country paid less than 2per cent. last
year upon the money invested In their con-
struction.
There are two other facts that 1t would
lie as much work Of fsupererrogation to cite
authorities to establish as 1t would be to
cite proof that the sun dffuses warmth,
and these are, that all classes of hand
workers are now receiving higher wages
than ever before, and that the unit Of
wages purchases more OF the necessaries Of
life than ever before.
Mr.. Edward Atkinson, in an exhaustive
review of this subject, shows conclusively
how false are the deductions of the Labor
Enquirer, and we quote some facts from
His article
In point of fact, at the present low prices OF
buildings ana machinery, 1t requires about
$1,000 TO be invested in an entirely new mill
and machinery for each hand employed in an
average plain cotton factory; and If from one
quarter to one-half of a cent yard OF medium
cloth of average quality can be secured from
goods now worth three to ten cents per yard,
the factory will earn six to eight per cent. on
its capital; labor, on the other hand, will Sc
cure one and one-fourth to three cents pei
yard, the rest of the price of the goods being
expended for materials and charges. Both
parties will thus obtain the largest profits and
the highest rate of wages which the price o.
theeoods will permit.
In the wooden MILL on common everyday
goods, such as hanncls and plain cassimeres
the ratio is about $500 capital to one workman
and If the owner can secure four to six cents
nj nf n
make eight to ten per cent. on his capital.
In the shoe factory Only $3.50 to $500 of capt
tai invested is required to each workman, whllt
the annual product is three to five times thu
value Of the capital invested therefore, If thu
owner can secure 3 TO cents O poir on shoe
worth 81 to S2, or per cent. OF the proceeds o
the sales, he will earn 10 per cent. on his capi
tai, while the wages of skilled boot and shoe
makers average $500 to 5000 a year, and In som
branches very much more. or twice, at least
the amount of the capital required to set eacl
one at work. 1t is for this very reason tina
the capital is so small in ratio to product; tina
10 large proportion of the capitalists In tn
boot and shoe manufacture themselves begin a
the bench having entitled themselves to
credit in the purchase of materials by virtu
of their character and not on the basis ofthei
capital.
In converting dirty brown sugar into refined
white sugar very large capital is required
yet 1t is so small in ratio to the value of tn
annual product that one sixteenth Of cent
pound profit suflices for its remuneration.
In the calico print works and in the bleach
cry, If the owner can secure profit of one
tenth of a cent yard upon staple goods, he 1
well satisfied,
The Labor Enquirer will have to revis
It's "object lesson" II 1t really desires t.
teach truth instead OF to disseminate false
lnnI